Royersford man threatens to kill police

ROYERSFORD — Early Wednesday morning, a borough man made threatening calls against police to 911, then launched a beer bottle at a responding patrol car.

Around 1:34 a.m., Daniel Ellis, 39, made several threatening calls to 911 stating that he was going to “kill a Royersford police officer,” according to the Royersford Police.

According to Royersford Police Chief Kevin Schurr, Ellis made the calls from a cell phone, so tracing them took a little time.

“He would call, then he would disconnect, call again, disconnect,” Schurr said.

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Around 3 a.m., the cell phone was pinpointed to an apartment building at 2nd and Main Streets in Royersford.

When police responded, Ellis reportedly threw a bottle at a Limerick patrol vehicle from the third floor of the building.

“We went into the apartment and encountered him in the stairwell of the apartment,” Schurr said. Ellis was taken into custody

Schurr said other than the beer bottle he flung at police, Ellis had no other weapons on him when he was arrested.

As police were transporting him, Ellis fell unconscious.

It was decided to take him to Phoenixville Hospital for treatment, but Ellis allegedly didn’t go quietly.

“He became very combative when they brought him around,” Schurr said. “An officer had to go with him in the ambulance.”

Alcohol is believed to have played a factor in Ellis’ behavior.

Ellis was transported to the Pottstown Police Department for holding but he didn’t stay there long, according to police.

“He became extremely out of control there,” Schurr said. “We were called back because of his out of control behavior. We were actually able to lodge an adult probation detainer. That then got him into county prison.”

Schurr said there was some indication that Ellis was angry after a recent incident involving his family that the authorities responded to.

“I think he was upset that police were at his residence a couple of evenings ago relative to another situation,” Schurr said. “There was no contact with him from then until now.”

Ellis will face charges of aggravated assault on police, making terroristic threats, making false alarms to agencies of public safety, harassment and disorderly conduct.

He will also likely face charges for damage to police property, according to Schurr. While being transported, Ellis allegedly got so combative that he damaged the handles of the police cruiser.

According to court documents, Ellis has been arrested in the area before for making terroristic threats, once in West Norriton in 2008 and another time in Colebrookdale in 2003.

His preliminary hearing is slated for next week before Magisterial Justice WAlter F. Gadzicki Jr.